Supporting frame for a drafting system unit and drafting system comprising such a drafting system unit

ABSTRACT

A supporting frame for a drafting system unit for drafting a fiber band at a workstation of a textile machine as well as a drafting system comprising such a drafting system unit. In order to make a drafting system and a drafting system unit available, the supporting frame has a coupling section and a locking unit for detachably connecting the supporting frame to an assigned workstation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from German National Patent Application No. 10 2018 005 998.8, filed Jul. 31, 2018, entitled “Tragrahmen für eine Streckwerkeinheit und Streckwerk umfassend eine solche Streckwerkeinheit”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a supporting frame for a drafting system unit for drafting a fiber band at a workstation of a textile machine as well as a drafting system comprising such a drafting system unit with a weighting arm having at least one upper roller.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Drafting systems of various designs for textile machines are known from the prior art. They are used to draft or draw a fiber band, whereby the cross-section of the fiber is reduced. During the drawing, the fibers must be slid relative to each other as evenly as possible in order to achieve a fiber band that is as even as possible.

In order to draft the fiber band, the drafting systems generally have a plurality of roller pairs arranged one after the other, which roller pairs, arranged lying on each other, clamp the fiber band running therebetween. A roller pair usually consists of a driven lower roller and an upper pressure roller lying on the lower roller, in which case the upper pressure roller is held in a rotating arrangement by a weighting arm. Drawing of the fiber band is achieved in that the circumferential speed increases from roller pair to roller pair in the transporting direction of the fiber band defined by the direction of rotation of the roller pairs.

In a drafting system unit, the weighting arm of the type mentioned above serves to press the upper pressure roller or upper roller arranged on the weighting arm against the assigned lower roller with a predefined pressure so that the upper roller rests under pressure on the corresponding lower roller in the operating position. A drafting system unit for a textile machine of the type mentioned above is an assembly of a drafting system of a textile machine, in which case the drafting system unit can also be configured as a complete drafting system depending on its design.

Known textile machines have a separate drafting system with several roller pairs arranged in rows at each workstation for each fiber band to be drafted, with a weighting arm assigned to the roller pairs. The drafting systems are usually integrated into the textile machines in such a way that only wearing parts can be serviced and, if necessary, replaced in an operator-friendly manner.

Maintenance and repair work, such as performing extensive cleaning work and regular inspections or determining a cause of malfunctioning, as well as adaptation of the roller pairs to the yarn material to be drawn, must be carried out on the textile machine with the drafting system in its installed condition, in which case neighboring workstations and adjacent aggregates make such work more difficult.

On this basis, the problem addressed by the invention is one of providing a drafting system unit for drafting a fiber band at a workstation of a textile machine which can in particular be inspected, repaired and/or adapted to the fiber band material to be drafted in a user-friendly manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention solves the problem by providing a supporting frame for a drafting system unit for drafting a fiber band at a workstation of a textile machine, in which case the supporting frame has at least one bearing point for pivotably bearing a weighting arm assigned to the drafting system unit, characterised in that the supporting frame has a coupling section and a locking unit for detachably connecting the supporting frame to the textile machine.

The invention solves the problem by providing a drafting system for a textile machine comprising a drafting system unit having a weighting arm with at least one upper roller, characterised in that the drafting system unit has a supporting frame having a coupling section and a locking unit for detachably connecting the supporting frame to the textile machine, on which the weighting arm is pivotably borne.

Advantageous further developments of the supporting frame or the drafting system are set forth herein.

The textile machine is preferably a spinning machine for drafting fiber bands such as a ring spinning machine, a roving frame, an air spinning machine or the like.

Characteristic of the supporting frame as per the invention is that the supporting frame has a coupling section and a locking unit for detachably connecting the supporting frame to the textile machine, in particular an assigned workstation. The design of the supporting frame with a coupling section and a locking unit makes it possible to arrange the supporting frame in a convenient and modular manner on the textile machine, and to position and fix it precisely in an operating position via the locking unit. By unlocking the locking unit, the drafting system unit can be conveniently removed from or taken off the textile machine or the workstation as required.

The supporting frame is preferably engaged via the coupling section and the locking unit with the corresponding take-up sections on the textile machine or the workstation. In the operating position, the locking unit ensures that the weighting arm, which has at least one upper roller and is pivotably borne on the supporting frame, is arranged in a secure position, thus ensuring reliable operation of a drafting system having this drafting system unit. Maintenance and setting work as well as adaptations of the pressure rollers to the fiber band material to be drafted on the weighting arm can be performed conveniently at suitable workspaces after its simple removal. In addition, the supporting frame or the drafting system unit comprising such a supporting frame can be easily and cost-effectively replaced with new, adapted or further developed supporting frames or drafting system units, so that, for example, existing drafting systems can also be improved by simply replacing them with further developed drafting system units.

The arrangement of the drafting system unit on the textile machine or at the workstation and the removal of the drafting system unit from the aforementioned can in principle be executed in any manner. A design is conceivable, for example, in which the supporting frame or the drafting system unit can be moved in a linear manner between a release position, in which the drafting system unit can be arranged on the textile machine and removed from it, and an operating position, in which the supporting frame or the drafting system unit is arranged when the assigned drafting system is in operation.

According to an advantageous further development of the invention, however, the coupling section is configured for arrangement on a take-up section of the textile machine or the workstation for moving the supporting frame between a release position, in which the supporting frame or the drafting system unit can be removed from the assigned workstation, and an operating position, in which the supporting frame or the drafting system unit is arranged in a secure position at the assigned workstation for operation of a weighting arm borne on the supporting frame. As per this design of the invention, the supporting frame is first arranged on an appropriately configured take-up section of the textile machine for assembly. From this release position, the supporting frame is moved to the operating position by means of an appropriate design of the coupling section, independent of the design of the take-up section, in which the drafting system unit is then secured in position on the textile machine or the workstation via the locking unit.

This design of the coupling section for moving the supporting frame between the release position and the operating position makes it possible to dispense with corresponding adaptation of the textile machine or the workstation to the coupling section or with a special design of the take-up section taking into account the shape of the coupling section. As per the further development of the invention, a basic means of moving the supporting frame is already provided due to the design of the coupling section, which primarily ensures sufficient bracing of the drafting system unit on the textile machine via the take-up section. One possible preferred design of this further development of the invention, for example, is that the coupling section is hinged on the supporting frame, so that the movement is realized independently of the design of the take-up section by an appropriate design of the supporting frame.

As already presented above, the basic design of the connection between the supporting frame or the drafting system unit via the coupling section and the take-up section on the textile machine can in principle be freely selected. According to an advantageous design of the invention, however, the coupling section has a recess adapted to a take-up section, in particular a frame brace of the textile machine. This design enables a particularly simple and cost-effective construction and manufacture of the supporting frame, in which case an advantageously cylindrical design of the frame brace with an appropriate design of the recess enables the drafting system unit to be moved between the release position and the operating position in a particularly simple manner.

The advantageously provided recess for the arrangement of the supporting frame or the drafting system unit on the frame brace can in principle be formed by any elements, for example flanges arranged on the supporting frame can be provided for this purpose, which feature corresponding recesses. According to a particularly advantageous design of the invention, however, the recess is configured in one piece with the supporting frame. A configuration of the recess on the supporting frame allows additional components to be dispensed with, thus reducing the manufacturing costs of the supporting frame in a supplementary way. In addition, the one-piece design of the recess on the supporting frame offers a weight advantage compared to using supplementary components and recesses.

The design of the locking unit for fixing the supporting frame or the drafting system unit in the operating position on the textile machine or the workstation can in principle be executed in any manner. It is conceivable, for example, to use magnetic or electric locking elements on the supporting frame, which interact with corresponding components on the textile machine when in the operating position. According to an advantageous further development of the invention, however, the locking unit has a detent body which can be moved between an opening position and a latching position and which can be engaged with a detent receptacle on the textile machine in an operating position of the supporting frame.

Such a design of the locking unit has a particularly simple structure which is therefore cost-effective and not prone to faults. A detent body on the locking unit of the supporting frame can be moved between the opening position and the latching position, in which case in the latching position the detent body is engaged with a corresponding detent receptacle on the textile machine. In this position, the positive locking produced by the detent body and detent receptacle ensures that the supporting frame or the drafting system unit is reliably held on the textile machine in a secure position. To release the drafting system unit, a simple shift of the detent body from the detent receptacle is sufficient to move the supporting frame from the operating position to the release position. The design of the detent body and the corresponding design of the detent receptacle can in principle be freely selected. For example, detent hooks that can be engaged in corresponding detent holes or bolts that are encompassed by the detent hook can be used. The detent body can also be configured as a sliding detent bolt which, in the latching position, engages in a corresponding detent bolt receptacle.

According to a further design of the invention, the detent body is also pretensioned in the direction of the latching position. An appropriate design of the invention ensures that the drafting system unit is automatically locked in the operating position by the detent body pretensioned in the latching position after shifting from the release position to the operating position. This reliably prevents incorrect operation or failure to engage the lock due to an operating error. If the supporting frame needs to be removed, it is only necessary to shift the detent body to the opening position against the pretension, so that the supporting frame can then be easily moved from the operating position to the release position and then removed from the textile machine.

The supporting frame has at least one bearing position for the pivotable bearing of a weighting arm assigned to the drafting system unit, which can hold at least one upper roller in a rotationally movable arrangement. As per a preferred further development of the invention, the supporting frame is also configured to accommodate at least one additional aggregate, in particular for the arrangement of a drive unit of a lower roller, a communication unit and/or a control device of the drive unit arranged on the supporting frame as per an advantageous further development of the invention.

The option of arranging further assemblies of a drafting system on the supporting frame makes it possible to configure the drafting system unit as a complete drafting system which can be arranged in its entirety in a modular and flexible manner on the textile machine or the assigned workstation or removed from the aforementioned using the supporting frame. In addition, a further preferred design of the supporting frame with a fastening rail to accommodate the at least one additional aggregate offers the option of easily arranging and adjusting the at least one additional aggregate on the supporting frame and also removing it from the supporting frame again, e.g. by means of a standardized design of the fastening rail. The resulting greater flexibility enables cost-effective maintenance and, as required, simple replacement of individual additional aggregates, which can also be the lower rollers assigned to the upper rollers.

A connection of the drafting system unit, in particular of one or more electronic units arranged on the supporting frame, with an assigned control unit can be established in a simple manner via a cable connection or alternatively via a communication unit configured for wireless data transmission. Data transmission can take place with a controller of the workstation, a central controller of the entire textile machine or a higher-level controller controlling several textile machines.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, two bearing points are provided on the supporting frame, each of which is for pivotably bearing a weighting arm, the weighting arms being configured in particular for bearing at least one upper roller between the weighting arms. In contrast to the weighting arms known from the prior art, in which neighboring upper rollers are connected to each other by a web loaded by the weighting arm, the arrangement of the upper roller between the weighting arms enables the pressure of the upper roller to be transferred particularly evenly to the assigned lower roller, since the load force acts on both sides of the upper roller and not centrally on the web running between two upper rollers. A more even pressure distribution ensures, in a particularly advantageous way, that the fibers are evenly slid relative to each other during the drawing, so that a particularly even fiber band can be created.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the supporting frame has a handling element, in particular a gripping element. The use of a handling element, which for example can also be configured to accommodate suitable handling tools, makes it possible to easily remove the supporting frame from the textile machine or the workstation or to arrange it there. In a particularly simple design, the handling element is configured as a gripping element, which enables the operator to grip the supporting frame in a particularly reliable manner and also to move it between the operating position and the release position. One or more gripping element(s) can be arranged taking into account the actuating forces occurring in order to facilitate operation.

Characteristic of the drafting system as per the invention featuring a drafting system unit having a weighting arm with at least one upper roller is that the drafting system unit has a supporting frame as per one of the preferred embodiments described above, on which the weighting arm is pivotably borne.

An appropriately configured drafting system is distinguished in that, depending on the assemblies of the drafting system unit arranged on the supporting frame, these can be arranged on the textile machine in a simple and convenient manner and can also be removed from it again. This makes it possible to carry out maintenance, repair, setting and adaptation work in a convenient manner at a separate workspace away from the textile machine, where all assemblies of the drafting system unit are easily accessible. First and foremost, the drafting system unit can be installed and taken out again in a particularly time-saving manner, which also allows cleaning work to be carried out more quickly and thus reduces downtimes of the textile machine. It is also easy to replace the drafting system, so that there is no need for the appropriately trained personnel who would otherwise be required.

According to a preferred embodiment, two weighting arms with at least one upper roller between them are arranged on the supporting frame as per an embodiment described above by way of example, the two weighting arms being connectable or connected to each other via a gripping element. In particular, the gripping element can extend parallel to the upper roller from one weighting arm to the other weighting arm or can be arranged in such a way on the weighting arms and detachably fastened. Such a shared gripping element enables the drafting system unit or the drafting system to be removed from the textile machine or the workstation in a simple manner involving a reduced number of components, and the aforementioned can be arranged on the workstation or the textile machine in a corresponding manner. The detachable arrangement and fastening of the gripping element enables the number of components to be reduced further. Thus, a gripping element can be carried along by the operator and arranged and fastened to the drafting system in the event of measures being taken. Such fastening can be executed in the usual way by positive or non-positive locking. Furthermore, the shared gripping element enables the weighting arms to be pivoted together in the operating position of the supporting frame in the usual way into a position at a distance from the lower rollers for carrying out measures such as cleaning one or more of the upper and/or lower rollers or other measures that do not require removal of the drafting system unit or the drafting system from the textile machine or the workstation, thereby further simplifying handling.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the drafting system is configured as a drafting system module that can be arranged and removed at the workstation. For this purpose, the following as a minimum are arranged on the supporting frame in a manner as described above by way of example: the at least one weighting arm with the at least one upper roller, a lower roller assigned to the at least one upper roller and a drive which drives the lower roller in a rotating manner and which can be connected to a controller via a cable or in a wireless manner. Moreover, in a preferred embodiment, the controller for the drive of the lower roller can be arranged on the supporting frame and in particular connected to the drive.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment example of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a spinning position with an assigned drafting system of a textile machine arranged in an operating position.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the spinning position and drafting system of FIG. 1 with the drafting system in a removed position.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the spinning position and drafting system of FIG. 1 in the operating position of the drafting system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the embodiments of the present invention is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. The following description is provided herein solely by way of example for purposes of providing an enabling disclosure of the invention, but does not limit the scope or substance of the invention.

FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrate a drafting system 2 assigned to a spinning position 1 in its operating position, in which the drafting system 2 is fixed relative to the spinning position 1. The spinning position 1 and the drafting system 2 form a workstation of a textile machine with a large number of workstations arranged next to one another, which is not illustrated here.

In the operating position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, a fiber band, which is not illustrated here, fed into the drafting system 2, is drafted between a total of four roller drives, each consisting of an upper roller 7 and an assigned lower roller, and is fed into a spinning nozzle 10 of the spinning position 1.

The lower rollers driven by individual drives 8 as well as the upper rollers 7 arranged on two weighting arms 6 running in parallel are arranged on a supporting frame 3, in which case the weighting arms 6 are pivotably connected to the supporting frame 3. The supporting frame 3 has two side elements 15, each of which features a recess 5.

For the assembly of the drafting system 2 illustrated in FIG. 2 in a dismantled position, the drafting system 2 is first arranged in a release position on the textile machine in which recesses 5 of the supporting frame 3 are placed on a supporting tube 4 of the textile machine which forms a take-up section. To put the textile machine into operation, the drafting system 2 is moved from this release position to the operating position of the drafting system 2 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 by the drafting system 2 pivoting around the supporting tube 4. In the operating position, detent hooks 12 connected to the side elements 15, which are arranged at one end of the side elements 15 of the supporting frame 3 opposite the recesses 5, engage with a rod-shaped detent hook receptacle 13 at the spinning position 1, in which case a detent hook opening 14 partially grips the rod-shaped detent hook receptacle 13.

Via the detent hooks 12 and the detent hook receptacle 13, the drafting system 2 is aligned with respect to the spinning position 1 in such a way that a drafted fiber band from the drafting system 2 reliably reaches the spinning nozzle 10 of the spinning position 1. A control device 11 is arranged on the underside of the supporting frame 3, in which case the control device 11 is borne on the supporting frame 3 in a manner allowing linear sliding by means of a guide rail not illustrated here, which is fixed to the side elements 15 via fastening holes 16.

The weighting arms 6 arranged at a distance from one another each serve jointly to bear the upper rollers 7 between the weighting arms 6, so that the upper rollers 7 are pressed with an even load force against the lower rollers which are each driven by individual drives 8. For convenient adjustment of the drafting system 2, a handle 9 is arranged on the weighting arms 6, which also allows the weighting arms 6 to be pivoted relative to the lower rollers after previously having been unlocked.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   -   1 Drafting system     -   2 Spinning position     -   3 Supporting frame     -   4 Supporting tube     -   5 Recess     -   6 Weighting arm     -   7 Upper roller     -   8 Drive unit     -   9 Gripping element     -   10 Spinning nozzle     -   11 Control device     -   12 Detent body/detent hook     -   13 Detent hook receptacle     -   14 Detent hook opening     -   15 Side elements     -   16 Fastening holes

It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those herein described, as well as many variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein in detail in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A supporting frame for a drafting system unit for drafting a fiber band at a workstation of a textile machine, in which case the supporting frame has at least one bearing point for pivotably bearing a weighting arm assigned to the drafting system unit, characterised in that the supporting frame has a coupling section and a locking unit for detachably connecting the supporting frame to the textile machine.
 2. The supporting frame according to claim 1, wherein the textile machine is an assigned workstation.
 3. The supporting frame according to claim 1, characterised in that the coupling section is configured for arrangement on a take-up section of the workstation for moving the supporting frame between a release position, in which the supporting frame can be removed from the assigned workstation, and an operating position, in which the supporting frame is arranged in a secure position at the assigned workstation for operation of a weighting arm bome on the supporting frame.
 4. The supporting frame according to claim 3, characterised in that the coupling section has a recess adapted to the take-up section.
 5. The supporting frame according to claim 4, wherein the take-up section is a frame brace of the textile machine.
 6. The supporting frame according to claim 4, characterised in that the recess is configured in one piece with the supporting frame.
 7. The supporting frame according to claim 1, characterised in that the locking unit has a detent body which can be moved between an opening position and a machine in an operating position of the supporting frame.
 8. The supporting frame according to claim 7, characterised in that the detent body is pretensioned in the direction of the latching position.
 9. The supporting frame according to claim 1, characterised in that the supporting frame is configured to accommodate a lower roller assigned to an upper roller (7) which can be arranged on the weighting arm for the rotationally movable bearing of the same.
 10. The supporting frame according to claim 1, characterised in that the supporting frame is configured to accommodate at least one additional aggregate.
 11. The supporting frame according to claim 10, characterised in that the at least one additional aggregate is an arrangement of a drive unit of the lower roller, a communication unit, a control device of the drive unit, or a combination thereof.
 12. The supporting frame according to claim 10, characterised in that the supporting frame has a fastening rail to accommodate the at least one additional aggregate.
 13. The supporting frame according to claim 1, characterised in that the supporting frame has two bearing points, each of which is for pivotably bearing a weighting arm.
 14. The supporting frame according to claim 13, characterised in that two weighting arms bear at least one upper roller between the two weighting arms.
 15. The supporting frame according to claim 1, characterised in that the supporting frame has a handling element.
 16. The supporting frame according to claim 1, characterised in that the handling element is a gripping element.
 17. A drafting system for a textile machine comprising a drafting system unit having a weighting arm with at least one upper roller, characterised in that the drafting system unit has a supporting frame having a coupling section and a locking unit for detachably connecting the supporting frame to the textile machine, on which the weighting arm is pivotably borne.
 18. The drafting system according to claim 17, characterised in that two weighting arms with at least one upper roller between the two weighting arms are arranged on the supporting frame, the weighting arms being connectable or connected to each other via a gripping element. 